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2017 sparked new momentum towards building organizational climate resilience. Milestones included many influential public and private organization initiatives and a renewed commitment to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius and new... Read more

Providing a detailed overview of how quality of life can be improved through engaging in more sustainable mobility practices, the recently published Thematic Guidelines offer a wealth of information, statistics and inspirational examples of good practice across Europe and beyond.
The publication is a must-read for all interested in this year’s theme, and those looking to improve their European... Read more

After flying home from my third trip in the last 5 months as advisor to Medellín, Colombia, this trip timed with the city's hosting of the largest urban gathering on the planet, the World Urban Forum WUF7, it’s high time I shared some observations about the innovations and attitudes that are making this city a “must-watch.” The more I work with and learn about Medellín, the more I understand why... Read more

Cities in developing countries with quality health, housing and water drainage systems, can more easily adapt to a changing climate, says the new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
David Satterthwaite, a leading expert on human settlements and one of the two coordinating lead authors of the urban chapter in the IPCC report, told IRIN the report’s message for urban centres in... Read more

A Philippine city took center stage at the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Medellin, Colombia, organized by the United Nations.
Cagayan de Oro City has been handpicked by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), which spearheaded the world’s premiere conference on cities, as among the nine global intermediate cities. The other eight cities are Johor Bahru on the straits of Johor... Read more

We have, it seems, no difficulty in dealing with the idea of cities, historically or in day-to-day life across the world. Cities are often iconic and in many ways define national identity. On the whole, we like them.
We have much more difficulty coming to terms with urbanisation – the process by which cities grow and change. China has just announced its very first "urbanisation policy", while... Read more

This paper focuses on one of the most promising strategies water utilities can use to develop broad public support: Embracing triple-bottom-line outcomes that deliver community benefits like jobs, business opportunities, green space, safer and more beautiful streets, and other local amenities.
Selected policies and programs designed to catalyze community and economic development allow water... Read more

ECLAC Launches a New Edition of the Handbook for Disaster Assessment
Since 1972, this organization has participated in the damage evaluation of more than 90 catastrophes that were responsible for around 310,000 deaths and affected the lives of 34 million people.
(April 24, 2014) The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) launched today in Jamaica the third edition of the... Read more

The first Earth Day was in 1970. It was created in the US to increase public awareness of environmental problems. Now, it’s celebrated every year by more than a billion people in 180 nations. Earth Day is credited with starting the environmental movement in the US and has helped sustainability become the core of development.
So dire is the problem that a 2013 report from the United Nations’... Read more

Developing countries are urbanizing fast. To meet the challenges that creates, city leaders must move quickly to plan, connect, and finance resilient and sustainable growth. A new World Bank report provides a framework to help.
Cities are where development challenges and solutions meet. With the cities of emerging economies expected
to double from 2 billion to 4 billion people between 2000 and... Read more

There's a lot of talking at the World Urban Forum. There's also a lot of pre-talking so that all the talking has a focus. The result is these concept papers that will guide many of the discussions in Medellín. All of which are pointed toward the general theme of the whole event: “Urban Equity in Development - Cities for Life”
Main concept paper for the WUF7
Urban Equity in Development -... Read more